Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Xavi Simons has confirmed his acceptance into the ‘Crossover Into Business’ programme at Harvard Business School. The 23-year-old Netherlands international, who is currently navigating a long-term rehabilitation programme following a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) sustained against Wolverhampton Wanderers in April 2026, will undertake the semester-long academic initiative while remaining sidelined until early 2027.
Simons, who joined Tottenham from RB Leipzig for a reported £52 million fee in August 2025, announced the development via his official LinkedIn profile. The programme, which is conducted online, connects professional athletes with MBA students to work through practical case studies and enterprise management scenarios. The midfielder has spent considerable time in the United States recently to oversee his physical recovery, a period which included a visit to the Harvard campus in Boston where he maintained contact with Professor Anita Elberse, an academic he has known since his previous spells at FC Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain.
Academic Pursuits Amid Rehabilitation
For Simons, the integration of higher education into his recovery timeline is a deliberate choice to utilise his time away from the pitch productively. The ‘Crossover Into Business’ curriculum is specifically tailored for elite athletes, designed to run concurrently with other commitments without interfering with rigorous medical treatment. Speaking on his decision to join the programme, Simons told his followers: “During my recovery, I’ve been trying to use my time in the best way possible. Football is still my main focus, but I also want to keep learning and improving away from the pitch.”
The player has been consistent in stressing that his academic engagement does not signal a pivot away from his primary career as a professional footballer. In a follow-up statement, he emphasised that the immediate goal remains his return to competitive action. “Getting back on the pitch is still my number one priority,” he noted. “At the same time, I want to use this period to keep learning and invest in myself beyond football.”
The Tactical Impact of Simons’ Absence
The absence of Simons throughout the latter part of the previous season and the beginning of the current campaign has been felt acutely at Tottenham. The midfielder’s influence on the team was statistically significant; according to club reporting, Spurs recorded a higher percentage of Premier League victories when the Dutchman started. The side averaged 1.5 goals per game with Simons in the starting XI, a figure that dropped to one goal per game in his absence. His ability to link midfield and attack provided a crucial creative outlet, with recent analysis from his final matches before the injury—specifically the draw against Brighton and the win over Wolves—showing he led the squad for chances created and shots. His return in February 2027 is expected to be a major boost for the squad, which has struggled for consistency in the final third.
A Growing Educational Trend Among Elite Athletes
Simons’ move to leverage his downtime for higher education reflects a broader shift among high-profile athletes who are increasingly focused on preparing for careers beyond the pitch. The Crossover into Business programme has become a familiar route for stars from the NBA, NFL, and tennis, including former world number one Victoria Azarenka. Footballers are also increasingly engaging with such institutions; in June 2026, Real Madrid midfielder Eduardo Camavinga enrolled in a course at Harvard focused on the business of entertainment, media, and sports during his own fitness layoff. Additionally, former Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson took up a long-term teaching position at the university following his retirement from coaching in 2014. By integrating himself into this environment, Simons is joining a growing cohort of elite sportspeople treating recovery periods as distinct windows for intellectual development.
